Friday, April 04, 2014

"Stand Against Transphobia” Photo-Exhibition at National Library until Saturday

On Monday,
March 31, 2014, Guyana Trans United (GTU) and the Society Against Sexual
Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) launched their “Stand Against Transphobia”
Photo-Exhibition in celebration of International Transgender Day of Visibility
at the National Library’s Conference Room.

Observed
globally on March 31, International Transgender Day of Visibility is a day to
visibly celebrate being transgender. It’s a day to raise awareness of the
discrimination faced by transgender individuals and to highlight
accomplishments. It is also an important day for allies and stakeholders to show
their support for transgender people. GTU and SASOD joined these global
celebrations in an effort to raise awareness of the issues and showcase
Guyanese transgender people through this photo-exhibition.

The “Stand
Against Transphobia” Photo-Exhibition is the first photographic exhibition of
transgender people in Guyana. Giving a brief overview of the photo-exhibition,
photographer and curator, Ulleli Verbeke, SASOD’s Co-Chair, shared that, “each
photo portrays a trans-woman and is annotated with a brief quote on their lives
and accomplishments. She expressed that, “the women featured in this exhibition
are fearless and I am honoured to have had the opportunity to work with each of
them on this project.” She thanked them for participating and for allowing her
to share their stories.

Photographer and curator of the photo-exhibition, SASOD’s Co-Chair, Ulelli Verbeke, giving an overview of the photo-exhibition

Openly
sharing about her life as a trans-woman, and highlighting some of the many acts
of discrimination and human rights abuses meted out to her and many other
transgender people, was trans activist and GTU member, Twinkle. She chronicled her life
from the time she discovered that she was “a woman trapped in man’s body” and
the discrimination she experienced from family and peers. She spoke about the
many acts of stigma and discrimination experienced by other transgender
Guyanese from their families, employers, healthcare workers and the general
population.

Trans activist and member of the Guyana Trans United, Twinkle giving the keynote speech

Also speaking
at the photo-exhbition was Mr. Derek Lambe, in his capacity as Chargé
d' Affaires for the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Guyana, Suriname,
Trinidad and Tobago, and for the Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories. He
noted that, “For the European Union, human rights and fundamental freedoms are
the "silver thread" running through our actions both at home and in
our external relations. The EU's position is that the rights of lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons are protected under existing
international human rights law and that transgender, and LGBI, persons have the
same rights as all other individuals — no new human rights are created for
them; but neither should any be denied to them. These rights include: equality
before the law, right to privacy, freedom of association, freedom of assembly,
freedom of expression, right to work and the right to health. The EU, similarly
to the United Nations, is committed to the principle of the universality of
human rights and reaffirms that cultural, traditional or religious values do
not justify any form of discrimination, including discrimination against
transgender and LGBTI persons.” The European Union also encourages the
Government of Guyana to repeal the laws criminalising same sex intimacy and
cross-dressing, Mr. Lambe stated. “We fully support SASOD and Guyana Trans
United in their efforts in this area. The EU demonstrates its support for LGBTI
issues in relations with the Government, in public statements, in international
fora, and also in providing funding to assist civil society organisations. The
European Union Delegation in Guyana is proud to have been able to provide
funding to the Equal Rights Trust and SASOD to support them in their efforts to
combat discrimination and to advocate for legal reform and to address societal
prejudice,” he added. He concluded that “one of the reasons for the
international Transgender Day of Visibility is also to focus on all the good
things in the trans community. This has been done beautifully in this excellent
photographic exhibition, which gives a face to transgender Guyanese persons,
both literally and symbolically. I congratulate Guyana Trans United and the
Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).”

(l-r) Mr. Derek Lambe, in the capacity of Chargé d' Affaires for the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and for the Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories; Trans activist and GTU member, Twinkle; Dr. Shanti Singh, Programme Manager, NAPS; Quincy McEwan, Director of Guyana Trans United & Schemel Patrick, Advocacy and Communications Officer, SASOD

The
participation of transgender Guyanese in this photo-exhibition is particularly
courageous in the local context where the laws criminalise cross-dressing and
there have been police crackdowns against working-class transgender women. In a
September 2013 decision, Chief Justice (ag.) Ian Chang ruled that cross-dressing
in public is only a crime if it is done for “improper purpose.” The learned
judge did not clarify what the term “improper purpose” means nor did he
indicate what improper purposes gave rise to the February 2009 police crackdown
against cross-dressing. SASOD and the four trans litigants are appealing this
and other aspects of Chang’s decision. The notice of appeal was prepared within
the 6 week deadline of the judgment and filed. The next step is now up to the
Court of appeal. The court will fix what essentially a case-management date is,
after which a date will be set for arguments.

At the launch
cutting the ribbon declaring the “Stand Against Transphobia” Photo – Exhibition
officially opened was Dr. Shanti Singh, Programme Manager at National AIDS Programme
Secretariat of the Ministry of Health. Also in attendance were Canadian High
Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles; Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy,
Mr. Bryan Hunt; Diplomatic Attaché of the Mexican Embassy, Alejandro Martinez;
Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy, Tabatha Fairclough; Chief of Party for the
USAID/International Republican Institute LEAD project, Glenn Bradbury; PAHO/WHO
Family and Community Advisor Dr. Rosalinda Hernandez; civil society partners
and other supporters.

Dr. Shanti Singh unveils the exhibition as Quincy McEwan, Director of Guyana Trans United looks on

Schemel
Patrick, SASOD’s Advocacy and communications Officer, in her remarks noted
that, “Guyana Trans United and the Society Against Sexual Orientation
Discrimination aim to utilize this photo-exhibition to continue to empower
transgender Guyanese to “stand against transphobia” by ‘visibilizing’ them in
their own images and words. For us, visibility is key to
empowerment.”

The “Stand
against Transphobia” photo-exhibition is being hosted with financial support
from the Equal Rights Trust (ERT), the Delegation of the European Union to
Guyana (EU) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).

The “Stand
Against Transphobia” photo-exhibition will be housed in the lobby of the
National Library, Conference Room all week until Saturday, April 5. The
National Library is opened from 9:00 to 17:00 hrs. during week
days, and 9:00 to 13:00 hrs. on Saturday.

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About SASOD

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is a human rights organisation and movement dedicated to achieving equality and justice for all Guyanese, especially those suffering discrimination based on their sexuality, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. We support similar work in Latin America and the Caribbean, Americas, Commonwealth, Global South and worldwide.